Question 1

Can AI work side by side during a sound check?

Accepted Answer

AI can suggest levels and assist with auto-mixing, but it can't hear the room breathe. Bob teaches the human side of sound — the intuition and ear training no neural network has mastered. The future belongs to hybrid engineers who understand both.

Question 2

Will AI replace sound engineers?

Accepted Answer

Not the ones who understand fundamentals. AI assists with tasks like intelligent EQ and predictive feedback suppression, but it doesn't listen. Engineers with 40+ years of room-reading experience remain irreplaceable.

Question 3

How much does the Sound Check with Bob course cost?

Accepted Answer

Standard access is $97 and the VIP Bundle is $297, both available through Teachable. The course includes 8 deep-dive modules totaling over 6 hours of practical instruction.

Question 4

Does Sound Check with Bob offer free resources?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Bob offers six free printable cheat sheets covering room acoustics, gain structure, live sound check, mixing, guitar setup, and microphone placement — plus a blog with new deep dives published Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Sign up for the newsletter to get the full cheat sheet set as PDFs.

Question 5

How do I set up a home studio on a budget under $500?

Accepted Answer

Start with one solid condenser mic, a 2-channel interface, closed-back headphones, and free room treatment like blankets, a rug, or a closet. Sound Check with Bob's gear module ranks exactly what to buy at each price tier so you skip the expensive mistakes and build a recording setup that actually works for under $500.

Question 6

What is the correct order for a live sound check?

Accepted Answer

Build the mix foundation first: drums, then bass, then guitars, then vocals. Ring out the monitors before the band arrives, set the vocal 3-6 dB above the mix, and walk the room from the audience position rather than just the FOH desk. Bob's live sound check cheat sheet lists every step in order.

Question 7

How do I treat a small bedroom for mixing?

Accepted Answer

Put thick bass traps in the corners rather than foam, absorb the first reflection points using the mirror trick, and add a ceiling cloud above your listening spot. Pull monitors at least a foot off the front wall and form an equilateral triangle with your head. The room acoustics module walks through a full small-room treatment plan.

Question 8

What is gain staging and why does it matter?

Accepted Answer

Gain staging means setting a healthy level once at the source, with peaks around -12 to -6 dBFS, and using faders only for balance. At 24-bit you don't need to record hot; quiet and clean is better. If a plugin distorts, your input is too hot. Bob's gain structure cheat sheet is a one-page reference for the whole chain.

Question 9

Is the Sound Check with Bob course good for complete beginners?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The 8 modules start from fundamentals like room acoustics, speaker placement, and microphone basics, then build to mixing, live sound, and modern AI-assisted tools, so a complete beginner can follow along. Each module is practical and short, and the free cheat sheets give you quick wins before you enroll.